Dudley College unveils further stage of expansion plan

Dudley College wants to open a specialist maths block for full and part-time students, which will be called Dudley Enhance.

A two-storey building will be constructed next to the existing Dudley Sixth campus, off Ednam Road and Priory Road.

Bosses say the popularity of the sixth form centre, which opened in September, has prompted the plans for the development to cater for a growing number of students.

A planning application lodged with Dudley Council has been approved by council officers, who have welcomed the scheme as a boost for the town.

It comes as preparations get under way for work to start on a £6m manufacturing and engineering complex – called Dudley Advance – on a site off Priory Road.

It will give students specialised manaufacturing skills, and it is hoped it will help to support the local and national engineering, technology and manufacturing sector.

The new maths complex, which will be built on a site between Dudley Sixth and Dudley Advance will replace out-dated facilities at the college's Broadway site.

A statement submitted by bosses with the planning application says: "Dudley Enhance will be an exciting and complementary development to the Dudley Learning Quarter.

"The new building will complete the group of buildings facing Priory Road and form a backdrop to the new hard landscaped plaza formed by the three buildings, offering a comprehensive gateway development to the town and its civic quarter." College principal Lowell Williams said: "We're delighted that planning has been approved for Dudley Enhance.

"The huge success of Dudley Sixth, our A-level centre on Ednam Road, has necessitated we develop this new student resource centre to provide additional facilities and space for our growing student population.

"This stunning new building will house a lecture theatre, maths workshop, i-point student learning centre, library and research facility, along with modern and comfortable social areas and a cafe for student to relax in.

"Dudley Enhance is an integral addition to the Dudley Learning Quarter and will ensure students studying in Dudley get access to world-class facilities."

The first work will begin within weeks on Dudley Advance, which is expected to open in September 2014.

Last month Dudley College was named in the top 10 per cent in England by Ofsted inspectors who heaped praise on its multi-million pound Learning Quarter scheme.

The scheme, at the heart of the town centre, provides 'outstanding' accommodation and resources for students, inspectors said.

The Learning Quarter includes the Dudley Evolve vocational campus, which opened last September on the site of the former fire station in Tower Street.

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